When is "drum corps" not drum corps any more?

[WWonka]

I'm curious what the DCP crowd thinks of when drum corps is no longer drum corps. Will that ever happen? Has it already happened?

No slamming, flaming, kicking, etc.

Have we crossed that line? Will we ever cross that line? Is there even a line to cross?

By the way I did not put anything about valves or rotors, etc. in there. I figured the key change itself was the bigger thing and didn't want to get too convoluted.

I guess what it comes down too is what you think defines "drum corps" as a genre of music or ensemble that make it unique from others.

What makes or defines drum corps as a unique genre?

I know this question has been thrown out before.. but couldn't remember if it was a poll. Hey beats another Star r godz thread. And I tried to not be negative in the wording of the title, poll choices, etc. That was not my intent.

Edited September 3, 2008 by WWonka

[TerriTroop]

I'm not fan of amplification (tolerating it for the pit, but it still annoys me), and I'm very much hoping that most corps will NOT avail themselves of mic's for ensembles, sampled sounds, etc. Given that this year most shows were completely devoid of narration, I am hopeful that the leaders of this activity will continue to be extraordinarily judicious with their choices regarding the new gimmicks at their fingertips. Just because it's allowed doesn't mean it NEEDS to be used.

But the moment woodwinds are in the mix, even in the pit (that's just the gateway), I think that signals the end of drum corps being drum corps for me.

[84BDsop]

The inclusion of woodwinds more than anything else for me.

If woodwinds are allowed, then the marching arts are no longer divided into marching band (HS and college) and drum corps....it'll be more like Pop Warner football, high school/college, and NFL levels...

[Bruckner8]

Where's Nick, "euphitone?"

I like his approach to all-things eletronic, mutli-key, narration, etc: "everything's fine, unless it sucks."

For me, I don't fear electronics, nor marration, nor woodwinds. As long as all of the following are met, I'm cool:

1) Unparallelled excellence (this is the most important factor, and rare...only the top 3-6 have it in any given year. Yes, I mean REALLY REALLY good!)

2) *Predominantly* accoustic music (2/3+ members dedicated to the musical outcome)

3) Very loud, again, from the predominantly acoutstic instrumentalists (OK, call me unsophisticated)

4) Outdoors

5) Lots of movement of the predominantly acoustic instruments, preferably while performing very loud with unparralleled excellence!

-I look forward to tasteful uses of electronics to enhance a show.

-I look forward to talented solo instruments (of any kind), even if mic'ed.

-I look forward to the colors of a section of saxes or clarinets (as long as there are enough to be heard, to be difference-makers, w/o amplification).

-I don't mind amplification of the pit, as long as it doesn't suck!

FWIW, I haven't heard a marching band that meets requirement #1, so don't go off on me and say "Well, then you just want marching band."

I don't even care if we have to change its name. After all, we're far away from the Bugle mataphor anyway. We can still call it D&BC just for tradition...I'm not hung up on the name.

If a corps were to come out with 100% Woodwinds, I'd be all over it, assuming it met my other conditions as well.

When it starts turning into "Summer Winter Guard with Background Music provided by less than 2/3 the particpants," I'll be gone. The first 50+ member guard, or the shows that spend most of their time converting the hornline into Surrogate Guard (We're there with some now)....THOSE will send me away for good.

[HoltonH178]

Bruckner, that was a wonderful post! Thanks for taking the time to make it.

[bobchilds]

For me, 2000 was a pivotal year, when a few of the corps started using Bb horns. And although I have been a fan of a number of shows from 2000 to the present, DCI corps have been gradually becoming something other than the drum corps activity that I came to love in the early 80s throughout the 1990s.

So to answer your question more directly, I think it's all of the things you mentioned in your poll. Amplification. Narration. Non-G horns. Electronics. Woodwinds. For me, any and all of those things will do.

[kusankusho]

Amped voice. When it's either "story time" or "karaoke night" - it's over....

[Michael Boo]

Additional criteria:

When drum heads stopped being made of calfskin.

When drums were hung on harnesses instead of bouncing on leg rests.

When identifiable rudiments slipped in usage.

When the bugles got the first valve.

When flags were added.

When flags started to be spun instead of just carried around the field.

When dance came in.

When mallets were added.

When guard uniforms got changed every year.

When VFW and AL became less important.

When corps went coed.

When drill forms went curvilinear.

When flag presentations were removed.

When inspections were deleted from contests.

When timpani were added.

When timpani were allowed to be grounded.

When corps needed another truck for pit equipment.

When corps got food trucks.

When kids got AeroBeds.

When drum corps went inside. (1965 VFW Nationals.)

When kids started joining from outside the parish or scout troupe.

When corps stopped playing marches by John Philip Sousa, Henry Fillmore, E.E. Bagley and Karl King.

(Part 1 of 470. More to follow.)

[Hrothgar15]

Additional criteria:

When drum heads stopped being made of calfskin.

When drums were hung on harnesses instead of bouncing on leg rests.

When identifiable rudiments slipped in usage.

When the bugles got the first valve.

When flags were added.

When flags started to be spun instead of just carried around the field.

When dance came in.

When mallets were added.

When guard uniforms got changed every year.

When VFW and AL became less important.

When corps went coed.

When drill forms went curvilinear.

When flag presentations were removed.

When inspections were deleted from contests.

When timpani were added.

When timpani were allowed to be grounded.

When corps needed another truck for pit equipment.

When corps got food trucks.

When kids got AeroBeds.

When drum corps went inside. (1965 VFW Nationals.)

When kids started joining from outside the parish or scout troupe.

When corps stopped playing marches by John Philip Sousa, Henry Fillmore, E.E. Bagley and Karl King.

(Part 1 of 470. More to follow.)

Logical fallacy much?

[Michael Boo]

Logical fallacy much?

? Boo confused.